This 'zine's the thing

By Meredith Deliso

Apps be damned!

For a handy old-school pocket companion, check out the “Zinester’s Guide to NYC,” an illustrated guidebook that will give you the best in Japanese breakfasts, bars, pizza, craft supplies, used books, punk rope, storefront museums, subway musicians and more.

More than 50 New York-based ’zine and indie comics publishers contributed listings and illustrations, with Brooklyn shoutouts including the City Reliquary, the Brooklyn Brewery, Sahadi’s, and, of course, the Mermaid Parade.

“The best way to experience the city is to really participate in it,” said author Ayun Halliday. “Why watch the parade when you can march in it? People should know that they can guest bartend, create a public park in a parking space on National Park(ing) Day, and submit the five-minute movies they shoot on the Boardwalk to next year’s Coney Island Film Festival.”

To celebrate the release, Halliday is throwing a “Non-Denominational Brooklyn Cookie Swap” at Book Court in Cobble Hill on Dec. 15, where you can take in festive tales of Brooklyn, and lesser boroughs, from contributors including Melissa Bastian, Leslie Henkel, Kelly McClure, Joshua Medsker, Bill Roundy, Josh Saitz, and, of course, Halliday herself.

And if you don’t feel like baking, you can always look up in the guide book where to score some sweets.

Non-Denominational Brooklyn Cookie Swap at Book Court [163 Court St. between Dean and Pacific streets in Cobble Hill, (718) 875-3677], Dec. 15 at 7 pm. Free. For info, visit ayunhalliday.com.